LGBT benefits from e-learning

Distance learning courses have played an important role in raising awareness for one community-based charity, according to those involved.

Online learning provider Virtual College worked with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community in Bradford to raise important issues regarding prejudice and discrimination in the workplace.

Bradford College embraced the idea to develop an e-learning strategy to enforce strict measures in training courses to firmly implement the ideas of equality and diversity in an employment environment.

According to the staff working to develop the online module, the main aim is to help people understand that while LGBT members may face issues of prejudice and discrimination, there is a difference between sexuality and gender identity.

The module was developed after requests to make messages clearer were made.

Christian McGrath from Bradford College, who co-ordinated the project, said: "All new members of staff have to complete the training within the first two months of employment and the rest of the staff have been working through the module since its release.

"We have had very positive feedback from the module with particular regard to how the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans staff can be affected not only by policies and procedure within organisations but in the wider society."

Mr McGrath added that the module was developed with Virtual College as an e-learning application to make it more cost-effective and flexible for the user.

He continued that e-learning has been a successful contribution to the courses offered at the college and that they will look to new ideas to improve learning techniques in the future.

Bradford College's module has been in action for the past few months and has had 1,000 pass rates to date.

The LGBT community's official web portal, lgbt.co.uk, gives advice on all issues and matters which may be faced, such as seeking marriage licences, finding events and details of news and campaigns.